GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: West Virginia WR David Sills V vs. Oklahoma CB Parnell Motley. Sills has been a touchdown machine, with 31 touchdown catches over the last two seasons. Motley has had a roller-coaster year, making plenty of big plays but being burnt many times as well. Over the past two games, though the Sooners’ defense has struggled, Motley has played well overall. He’ll need to play well again to help keep Sills out of the end zone if the Sooners defense is to get many stops.
DRAFT SLANT
–OT Cody Ford continues to show progress after moving to the tackle spot before the season and is likely to enter the NFL Draft after this season. “Cody has been phenomenal, without a doubt,” Lincoln Riley said. “Our only concern with Cody was is he going to be athletic enough? He did a great job during the summer. He trimmed down to the lightest he’s been here. He went down from 340 to 325-ish. He’s played at a high level. Athleticism has not been an issue at all.”
ROSTER REPORT:
–RBs T.J. Pledger missed his second consecutive game last week due to injury, while Trey Sermon missed all but two plays after suffering an ankle injury the week before. Kennedy Brooks is Oklahoma’s only remaining healthy scholarship running back. Sooners coach Lincoln Riley said he was hopeful Pledger and/or Sermon could be available Friday.
–DL Neville Gallimore, who had started every game this season, missed the Kansas game with an unspecified injury. Dillon Faamatau started in Gallimore’s place.
–S Justin Broiles made his first start since early October last week but was knocked out of the game late after taking a hard hit. Broiles was kept for observation overnight but Lincoln Riley said it didn’t appear Broiles would be out long-term.
–S Kahlil Haughton missed the last three games with an unspecified injury.
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